SWANA Con Agenda 2026

Saturday, January 17th

• 3:00 - 3:30 p.m. | Conference Registration (Mandatory Check In)

  Meet on the 3rd floor of the Highlander Union Building to check-in. Please bring your student ID to pick up your name tag (used throughout the conference).

• 3:35 - 5:45 p.m. | Plenary Session

  Introductions, community guidelines, and keynote.

• 5:45 - 6:30 p.m. | Cohort Session 1

  Cohort session 1

• 6:30 - 6:45 p.m. | Break

  Break.

• 6:45 - 9:00 p.m. | Banquet

  Dinner (halal and vegetarian options are available), performances, and dancing.

Sunday, January 18th

• 10:30 a.m. - 10:55 a.m. | Opening Plenary

  Check in, receive a raffle ticket, and review day two schedule updates.

• 11:00 a.m. - 12:20 p.m. | Community Healing Workshops

  Threads of Resistance: The Art of Tatreez	HUB 268	Come learn and preserve the traditional practice of tatreez, an art form rooted in love, preservation of identity, and resistance. More than embroidery, tatreez is a living expression of Palestinian identity and a powerful defiance against erasure and occupation. Every stitch carries a story, woven through generations, telling the history of Palestine through thread and hand. Traditionally worn by Palestinian women on their thobes across every phase of life, tatreez marks moments of youth, marriage, and childbearing, as well as times of mourning and celebration. Each motif holds meaning, such as land, home, resilience, and survival. To practice tatreez is to carry these stories forward and honor the women who have safeguarded them for generations.
  Scents of Home: A Fragrance Workshop by Deja Vu Perfume Bar (Yasmine A.)	HUB 260	What does home smell like? In this hands-on workshop, we’ll explore how scent connects us to memory, culture, & identity through a SWANA lens. Together, we’ll smell & talk through fragrance notes inspired by SWANA traditions, like rose, oud, dates, pomegranate, and warm vanillas & what they represent in our homes & everyday lives. You’ll learn how perfumers think about fragrance (top, heart, & base notes), not in a technical way, but in a storytelling one. How certain scents feel bright, grounding, comforting, or familiar. From there, you’ll create your own personal fragrance using a curated selection of accords, guided step by step so it feels intuitive, not overwhelming.
  Armenian Folk Dances with Ararat Dance Group	HUB 269	Join us to learn some popular Armenian Folk Dances and to become familiar with the history, meaning, and purpose of these dances.
  The Art of Arabic Calligraphy by Faran Kharal	HUB 265	Step into the timeless world of Arabic calligraphy and experience the beauty of writing as an art form. In this hands-on workshop, you will be guided on the fundamentals of Arabic calligraphy using traditional tools, including bamboo pens, Japanese ink, and quality paper. You will learn how to form Arabic letters with confidence, connect them into words, and practice writing meaningful phrases. Along the way, we will explore the rich history of Arabic calligraphy, how it evolved across cultures and centuries, and why it continues to inspire artists today. Whether you are a complete beginner or simply curious about calligraphy, you will leave with new skills, a deeper appreciation for the tradition, and your own finished calligraphy practice pieces.

   

• 12:20 p.m. - 1:20 p.m. | Networking Lunch

  Halal and vegetarian options available.

• 1:20 p.m. - 1:35 p.m. | Break

  Time to pray/meditate, rest, etc.

• 1:35 p.m. - 2:35 p.m. | Professional Development Workshops

  Authenticity Is a Skill:  Identity, Culture & Mental Health In Professional Spaces by Madina Wardak	HUB 268	Students are often told to “leave parts of themselves at the door” in order to succeed professionally. Authenticity Is a Skill challenges that idea by exploring how identity, culture, and mental health can be sources of strength - not obstacles - in professional spaces. This workshop provides students with language, frameworks, and practical tools to show up authentically, set boundaries, and translate lived experience into professional confidence.
  Count MENA in CA! by Arab American Civic Council	HUB 269	This workshop is designed to introduce SWANA students and other student advocates to the #CountMENAInCA campaign and the success of the Count MENA Inclusion Act. The goal is to equip participants with practical tools for policy and advocacy work in campus and professional settings.
  Pre-Health Panel	HUB 367	Interested in exploring careers in healthcare? Join us for a pre-health panel with a physician, optometrist, and clinical researcher who will share their journeys and insights.
  Pre-Law Panel	HUB 379	Interested in exploring careers in law? Join us for a pre-law panel with two attorneys and a third-year law student sharing insights on the path to law school and beyond.

• 2:35 p.m. - 3:20 p.m. | Cohort Session 2

  Cohort session 2

• 3:20 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | Closing

  Activity and raffles.